𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐋𝐎𝐆𝐔𝐄 | How to hide a god's secret love child; a guide by Layla Tribulatio

THERE wasn't much that truly scared Layla Tribulatio. Ever since she was seven, she had become used to seeing monsters walk past her on the streets, to hear things go bump in the night and watch humans walk down alleyways only to never walk back out again.

But, this was different. This was scary.

Her mother was out, on a date with someone that she had met online, and Layla had been left home in the care of her aunt, along with her younger cousin. 

It had been a fun night as her auntie had let her stay up to watch the TV, allowing her to look at the cartoons as well as eat popcorn and a variety of other sweet treats that her mum would never allow.

Then, in a firm tone, she had told the ten year old that it was time for bed and Layla had reluctantly agreed, stomping up the stairs and pulling herself into her bed, clutching onto her stuffed animals tightly. 

"Night night, Layla," Her aunt pushed her hair back, pressing a kiss to her head and switching the night light on. She had smiled softly, before closing the door behind her and stepping out.

Layla had fell asleep soon afterwards but she was awoken later that night. Normally, she woke when her mum was home, but there were no footsteps downstairs. A bell chimed and Layla counted the number, before trying to roll over and go back to sleep. But something was off, the house was too silent.

Opening the door to her room took a little bit of work, but Layla managed. The hallway outside was quiet, the carpets muffling Layla's footfall as she padded along the corridor to the nearest window. Pushing herself up onto her tip toes, she glanced out the window, looking out to the driveway, but her mother's car wasn't back.

"Hmm," She hummed, before turning away and heading back to her room. She had almost reached the door when something creaked, and Layla turned around.

At the end of the corridor, the last door swung open and closed like a pendulum on a clock. There was a light on inside, and Layla's eyes widened, for that was her cousin's room. Dara was only a baby, at around six months old according to her mother, so was not able to protect herself.

Rushing forward, Layla pushed the door open to her cousin's room, shivering at the cold winter's breeze that blew in from the open windows.

"Dara, Dara," Layla muttered, looking down at her cousin who was giggling in the crib. Her arms were free, waving around as she tried to grab onto her feet. "Aren't you cold?"

Dara gurgled again, grabbing her toes and pulling at her babygrow.

"Auntie!" Layla called through the house, knowing that she couldn't reach the window. "Auntie, the window's open in Dara's room. Can you close it?"

There was no answer and Layla's eyebrow furrowed, before she shrugged, maybe the woman was asleep and turning back to the room. 

"Okay, Dara, it's just you and me with this one," Layla muttered, grinning at her cousin in the glow of the nightlight. Layla fumbled around in the dark for a moment, before finding a stool and pulling it over to the window. Climbing up onto it, Layla almost fell, but steadied herself, turning to look at her cousin. "See, easy peasy."

Dara gurgled again, as Layla leant up to grab onto the window handle, tugging with all her might as she pulled it close. It finally slammed shut, as Layla pulled down harshly, hearing the lock click into place.

"We did it! Yay!" Layla cheered quietly, before pulling the blankets back around Dara, securing her arms underneath it. Dara giggled again, struggling to get her hands free but Layla just tucked her in more securely. "Wonder where auntie is? Where's your mama, Dara? Where is she?"

Dara gurgled, before she looked to the corner of the room. Layla laughed, shaking it off, but Dara kept staring and Layla paused. She looked at the corner, but she couldn't see anyone there, it was far too dark.

Grabbing the stool, Layla dragged it across the floor, past Dara, and towards the door. It took a few moments, before she reached the wall, climbing onto the stool and turning the light on.

"Wow, that's bright," Layla muttered rubbing her eyes, before spinning around. It took her a moment, but Layla let out an ear splitting screech, her eyes going wide. "Auntie!"

She felt sick, her stomach turning as she tried not to be sick. Her aunt lay in the corner, one hand holding a baby bottle, the other flopped off to the side. Her eyes were wide and unseeing, a trickle of blood flowing from her nose. Layla took a step forward, her lip trembling as she tried to reach Dara and pick her up. 

The baby was giggling, her laughter echoing around the room. Layla had almost reached her, her breathing harsh, when she saw her aunt's left hand. Around her finger were burn marks, like a hand print. Layla paused, before leaning down and looking at the hand print. It was small, almost the size of a baby's.

Layla froze, before turning to look back at Dara, who was still giggling, her hands free and trying to clutch onto her toes again.

The young girl was then sick in between her aunt's body and Dara's crib, trying to fight down the fear in her heart as she watched the child. 

"I'm home! Layla, where are you?" Her mother pushed open the door, letting out an scream as she saw her sister on the floor. "Millie! Layla, phone the police! Call the police! Come on, Millie, wake up!"

☾☼☽

The last time Layla Tribulatio saw her younger cousin, Dara Than, the girl was eight. She was heading back to the east coast to go back to Camp Half-Blood, her friends and her half-siblings.

"Be safe," Layla nodded, embracing her mother tightly. 

"Will you be okay?" Her mother laughed, nodding her head.

"Of course. Dara, your father and I are going to have some fun, go to the aquarium and all of that stuff. Isn't that right, Dara?"

"Yes," Dara grinned, tugging at the gloves on her hand. 

"Step-dad, but sure," Layla muttered, sighing before turning to her younger cousin. The girl grinned, showing the gap between her front teeth, as she reached out to wrap her arms around Layla tightly. Layla tensed up, but smiled and squeezed her younger cousin. "You be good for mum, yeah?"

"Of course," Layla stood up, keeping Dara on her hip as the little girl watched her. "When will you be back?"

"I don't know," That was the truth. Layla didn't know what she was going to do now that she was eighteen. "Remember, don't take those gloves off. I don't want you to hurt yourself. Keep them on for me, alright?"

"Course," Layla nodded, setting the girl down and patting her head, before grabbing her backpack and slinging it over her shoulder. She walked away from them, heading towards the escalators for security at the airport in San Francisco. 

Turning around, Layla took one last look, seeing her mother and cousin waving at her. She mustered up a smile, waving back, before turning away again.

Even after all these years, Layla struggled to look at Dara without seeing the girl's mother lying on the floor in her nursery, dead, with a baby's hand print burnt on her fingers.

Hiya,

So, this story is going to be slightly darker than Young Gods (and I say slightly because yeah only slightly). Uh yeah, this is gonna be fun.

Let me know what you think,

Love Li xx